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CHAPTER SIX: STILL WATERS RUN DEEP
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Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER SEVEN: TEMPER ISSUES
SOPHIE GAZED UP at Ragnar as he approached with brisk strides. Strong hands pulled her to her feet, escorting her outside with force, causing her to stumble along with his rapid pace. This was it, she feared; he had grown tired of her blunders and was ready to exact punishment. She didn't resist; there was little point in doing so. She knew he would overpower her easily. She silently hoped that Helen could find her before he did any harm, but realistically, what could that woman do? Once they were outside, Ragnar finally loosened his painful grip but still held onto her, pulling her farther away from the crowd and the noise. The night was dark and cold, and Sophie shivered, unsure if it was from the cold or the fear of what might transpire. Suddenly, Ragnar stopped, and Sophie violently wrenched her arm out of his grasp, almost tripping over her own feet and nearly meeting the muddy ground. Ragnar, however, grabbed her cloak by the neck, steadying her. She averted her gaze from hi
Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER EIGHT: FEAR
IVAR HAD A HABIT of appearing from the shadows unnoticed despite the scraping of the metal buckles around his legs, making Sophie jump slightly as she almost dropped the bucket she was carrying. "There you are," he said with a smirk. "Our little angry slave." He waited for a reply as she fought to remain silent, knowing that she wanted to respond with something harsh. "But Sigurd had it coming," he continued. This wasn't the first time she had heard that. "Now you decide to remain silent?" he asked with an annoying smile as he tried to balance himself on his crutch. Disregarding Ivar, she strode past him, prepared to resume her duties. However, he had different intentions, halting her by seizing her arm. "I'm addressing you," he snapped, his teeth clenched. "Slave." "What is it, Ivar?" she demanded, glaring at the hand that imprisoned her before lifting her gaze to meet his malevolent eyes. There was a fierce intensity in her eyes he hadn't witnessed before. A spark, as if Thor,
Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER NINE: SLAVE
CONTRARY TO HER original intentions for the evening, Sophie found herself in the hall early, preparing it for Ivar and his brothers, just as he had instructed. She detested the fact that he had coerced her into being here, but perhaps if she completed the preparations quickly, she might have a chance to get some rest. Her plans didn't align with reality as the brothers entered the hall, surprised to see her, although Ivar wore a smug expression of pride. Disregarding her, they proceeded to sit at the large table. Sophie noticed Sigurd glaring at her with eyes that held nothing short of murderous intent, propping his legs up on the freshly tidied table. She hurriedly completed her tasks, hoping to leave, but her attempt was thwarted when Ivar called after her. "Slave. Where do you think you're going?" he asked. "Are we supposed to serve ourselves?" Facing away from them, she took a deep breath, grappling with the decision to either walk out, ignoring him, or stay and follow his orde
Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER TEN: SERPENT
ATHELSTAN ESCORTED Sophie back to the barn last night, just as Ragnar had requested. She was immensely thankful, as he had spared her from whatever torment Ivar had planned. However, the knowledge that King Ragnar had specifically instructed him to watch over her unsettled her deeply. Of course, she was grateful for the fact that it was Athelstan rather than some Pagan, as not only did she feel safe knowing he was appointed to be her guardian angel but also closer to home. He refrained from initiating any conversation, observing how utterly exhausted she seemed. So, he simply bid her goodnight before leaving her to grapple with a restless sleep, her thoughts swiftly morphing into haunting nightmares. Her mind seemed to replay the darkest events from her past, intermingling and reshuffling them in a way that left her breathless upon waking in terror. The knight who once tried to violate her but failed materialized in her dreams, succeeding this time, inflicting harm repeatedly. Iva
Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER ELEVEN: USELESS SLAVE
SOPHIE COULDN'T believe her ears at what came out of King Ragnar's lips. "This is to be your place," he spoke. "You can come and go as you please." "That's impossible," she said, her eyes reflecting her confusion as she searched his face for the truth, but his eyes betrayed nothing but the crafty thoughts Sophie had yet to uncover. "It is," he confirmed. "Remember? I am King." "But what about my duties?" she asked, taken off guard. "No longer needed," he said, catching her off guard. "You are an awful slave," he continued. "And I am dismissing your services." "And I can come and go as I please?" she asked again. "Only if you desire to," he told her. "You can walk away right now if you want." She could, but where would she go? "Does that mean I am a free woman?" she dared to ask. "No," he smirked. What did that mean? "No?" Sophie tested the waters. "Not until you tell me who you are," he insisted, causing her to sigh in defeat. "And if I do tell you, you'll set me free?" s
Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER TWELVE: HEARTBEAT
RAGNAR EITHER dozed off or was feigning sleep as Sophie sat there, wide-eyed, watching him. Realizing there was no point in figuring out whether he was asleep or not, she stood up slowly, put on her boots, and turned to walk out. "Where are you going?" he suddenly spoke before she had a chance to reach the door. "Out of here," she replied, ignoring him as she walked out. Ragnar groaned as he forced himself to stand up before following her. "Out where?" he called after her. "I thought you said I can come and go as I please," she said as she continued to walk away from him. "You can," he confirmed. "Okay then," she said. Ragnar eventually stopped following her when he made sure she was back in Kattegat safely. He did not want to scare her away, as he was interested in knowing more about her. He had to admit, she had piqued his interest from the beginning—something about her made him want to know more. The fact that she kept holding back made him even more curious. So instead, he
Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER THIRTEEN: DEFENSE
WITH A RAPID HEARTBEAT, Sophie sprinted desperately away from the individual who had thrown the axe at her. She plunged deeper into the woods, eventually reaching the river, which blocked her path. Terrified, she spun around, her eyes scanning for an escape route, only to find no one pursuing her. There was absolutely no one in sight, waiting to harm her. Was she losing her mind? Was it all a product of her imagination? Judging by her surroundings, Sophie knew she was lost. As she prepared to move again, she heard nearby rustling, triggering her defensive instincts. In her mind, she formulated an escape plan while anxiously waiting with widened eyes for her pursuer. To her astonishment, the predator was none other than Ubbe, one of the brothers she had been avoiding for the past few days. However, there he stood, panting, hands outstretched to show Sophie he meant no harm—only for the axe in his hand to derail his intentions as she bolted once more. "Sophie!" Ubbe shouted as he s
Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER FOURTEEN: BETTER LEFT UNKNOWN
WEEKS HAD PASSED, and Sophie dedicated her days to daily training sessions with Ubbe. King Ragnar was conspicuously absent since their last encounter, which was a relief, considering how he enjoyed playing mind games that confused her. Ubbe proved to be an excellent and patient teacher, training her as if preparing for battle. Sophie was thankful for his guidance. She never imagined she would have the opportunity to wield a sword, let alone learn the art of combat. One aspect of Viking culture that appealed to her was the way they treated women equally. The next day's training involved archery. Sophie, although skilled with a sword, was eager to try her hand at being an archer, a childhood aspiration. She was thrilled about the prospect, only to find that archery was more challenging than expected, leading to consistent failures. "Watch your stance," Ubbe instructed, correcting her posture. "Face me, not the target; you keep forgetting that." Sophie followed his guidance, readying
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Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER TWENTY TWO: MAYHEM
THE VIKINGS had set up camp just outside the Kingdom of Wessex as they all gathered, preparing and strategizing for their next move. Sophie was escorted into a tent by Hvitserk, accompanied by four guards to ensure she remained confined until they convened for the feast. They couldn't risk losing their valuable hostage. Later, she followed two guards to where King Ragnar and his allies were assembled. The raucous noise reminded her of the feasts she had witnessed in Kattegat, but this time, she was to join in rather than serve. Life had its way of playing tricks. It remained unclear to her whether they were planning to attack her kingdom or negotiate with her father, potentially offering lands in exchange for her—a typical Viking strategy. If Helen had accompanied her, Sophie might have learned a thing or two about their plans, but she was on her own. "Join us, Princess," King Harald beckoned, seated beside Floki and his brother. "Get our Princess a drink, please," King Ragnar i
Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER TWENTY ONE: THE SAIL
SOPHIE'S LIFE had undergone a profound shift in the past few months as King Ragnar Lothbrok and his Viking crew prepared for their voyage to England in the coming spring. Since Ubbe had brought her to the cottage, she had been confined there, and she had lost track of how much time had passed. The days dragged on with a monotonous routine, spent mostly in solitude. Despite being their captive, they ensured she was cared for, sending Helen to provide her with food and warm baths. Sophie found herself with nothing to occupy her time—no chores, no responsibilities. The lack of purpose was slowly gnawing at her, making her feel like she was losing her grasp on reality. King Ragnar had not visited her since the day he rescued her from her attackers. That harrowing incident haunted her nights, and she found herself unable to forgive him. While he did rescue her and stationed guards outside her confinement, it was his actions that set the chain of events in motion, and she couldn't shake
Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER TWENTY: SAVIOR
THE DAY FELT like an eternity for Sophie, who had been unable to get any sleep due to the commotion in the lively city. Her head throbbed, burning with fever, and every bone in her body ached from the lack of rest. Helen finally made an appearance, approaching Sophie, who barely had the energy to acknowledge her presence. "Sophie, my child," she spoke softly, as if afraid her voice might startle her. "I brought you some food." "Water," Sophie tried to speak, her voice failing her. "Of course, of course, I brought water too," Helen said as she brought the cup to Sophie's chapped lips, noticing the heat radiating from her head. "There you go, my poor child." She wanted to tell her to stop calling her that, but she knew better than to waste her energy arguing with the older woman if she had any energy left at all. So, she drank from the cup that was held for her, nurturing the little coolness the water provided. "You'll have to eat something," Helen told her as she moved the now emp
Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER NINETEEN: HELL
SOPHIE FOUND HERSELF abandoned in the darkness, tethered to the post that cruelly denied her any respite. Her legs throbbed, longing for rest, yet every time her eyes began to close in hope of a brief reprieve, her bouncing head jolted her awake. It was a torment she had never experienced before, making her almost wish that Ragnar had chosen to end her life. The cold gnawed at her skin, the thin dress she wore offering no protection from the biting chill. The cloak, once deemed useless, now seemed like a desperate necessity. In her solitude, she couldn't help but wonder why Helen hadn't come to visit her. Had she been abandoned in her time of greatest need? Sophie felt an overwhelming sense of loneliness and fear in the darkness, while everyone else was comfortably inside, basking in the warmth of a crackling fire or slumbering peacefully. Unknown to her, Ragnar observed from a short distance away, perched in the shadows, unable to sleep. The image of the vulnerable girl alone out
Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: MERCY
"King Ecbert will pay the price," Ragnar's words were a menacing threat to Sophie, who stood frozen, caught in a struggle between fight and flight, desperately hoping for someone or something to intervene. Two words whispered incessantly in the back of her mind like a faint warning: run away. But she couldn't, not when those two glinting blue eyes were fixated on her, momentarily making her wonder if she had been picturing the devil wrong her whole life. "Don't be afraid, I won't kill you," he assured. "I have greater plans for you." Sophie glanced around, perhaps hoping for Athelstan or Queen Aslaug to come to her aid, but they were nowhere to be found, assuming they would have intervened. She was on her own. "I took good care of his daughter while he slaughtered my people," Ragnar recounted, his gaze hard on Sophie, who maintained a rigid posture. "Tell me, Sophie, what am I supposed to do now?" "We can fix this," was all she could manage to say. The truth was she wasn't sure
Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM
AWAKENING TO THE gentle patter of rain, Sophie slowly opened her eyes, finding a sense of calm in the melodious symphony of raindrops harmonizing with the song of the birds. Happiness was a rare visitor to her waking moments in Kattegat. Little there brought her simple joys, save for her training sessions and conversations with her two close friends. Everything else seemed insignificant. Each day followed the same pattern—training, visiting Helen and Yelda, and concluding with long, solitary nights during which Sophie yearned for her homeland. She often wondered if she would ever step foot on her native soil again. On this particular morning, Ubbe was conspicuously absent. Curiosity piqued, Sophie decided to venture into the city. To her surprise, the townsfolk of Kattegat were fixated on her, their intense stares causing her heart to race. "Christian!" A person nearby hissed, setting off a chain of insults from others. If their looks were piercing, their verbal barbs were even sh
Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER SIXTEEN: SHIELD
SOPHIE FINALLY summoned the courage to visit Helen and Yelda, deciding to let go of the fear of Ivar and his brothers. She knew she couldn't hide forever. The three women spent their time engaged in their usual activities, with the two housekeepers rambling on and on, their words falling on deaf ears as Sophie listened with little interest. The gossip among the servants meant little to her. "He did strike her," Yelda mentioned, drawing Sophie back into the conversation. "I saw him, and it wasn't the first time." "Poor Aslaug," Helen sympathized. "She has endured enough." "I think he still cares for Lagertha," Yelda continued. "Does he still bother you?" she asked Sophie. "King Ragnar?" She inquired. "Yes, does he still visit you?" the young woman pressed. "You ought to be careful." "No, he hasn't visited in a while," Sophie reassured her. "That's good," Yelda nodded. "What happened to him being a good man?" Sophie asked Helen. "No one said he wasn't," Helen replied. "Then w
Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER FIFTEEN: HATE
SOPHIE WAS SUPPOSED to meet Ubbe at their training field, which was quite a long walk from her place, let alone from Ubbe's, as she preferred to stay away from the public eye. However, Ubbe was nowhere to be found when she reached her destination. She waited impatiently to start the day's session. For unknown reasons, Ubbe hadn't allowed her to have her own sword or bow, leaving her with only her knife—Torvi's knife—to defend herself. She heard a rustling noise not far away, presuming it was Ubbe. But a bolting figure told her otherwise as she ducked away just in time to avoid the blade of steel swinging at her. Surprised to see King Ragnar standing there with a sword in hand and a smirk on his face, she found herself glaring at him as her quivering hand found the hilt of her knife. It was no wonder where Ivar got his sneakiness from. "Where's Ubbe?" she asked, growing more and more irritated as he studied her with those glinting eyes of his before he almost caught her off-guard b
Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER FOURTEEN: BETTER LEFT UNKNOWN
WEEKS HAD PASSED, and Sophie dedicated her days to daily training sessions with Ubbe. King Ragnar was conspicuously absent since their last encounter, which was a relief, considering how he enjoyed playing mind games that confused her. Ubbe proved to be an excellent and patient teacher, training her as if preparing for battle. Sophie was thankful for his guidance. She never imagined she would have the opportunity to wield a sword, let alone learn the art of combat. One aspect of Viking culture that appealed to her was the way they treated women equally. The next day's training involved archery. Sophie, although skilled with a sword, was eager to try her hand at being an archer, a childhood aspiration. She was thrilled about the prospect, only to find that archery was more challenging than expected, leading to consistent failures. "Watch your stance," Ubbe instructed, correcting her posture. "Face me, not the target; you keep forgetting that." Sophie followed his guidance, readying
